[ noun ] the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle) <noun.attribute> he showed great heroism in battlehe received a medal for valor
Heroism \Her"o*ism\ (?; 277), n. [F. h['e]ro["i]sme.] The qualities characteristic of a hero, as courage, bravery, fortitude, unselfishness, etc.; the display of such qualities.
Heroism is the self-devotion of genius manifesting itself in action. --Hare.
Usage: Courage is generic, denoting fearlessness or defiance of danger; fortitude is passive courage, the habit of bearing up nobly under trials, danger, and sufferings; bravery is courage displayed in daring acts; valor is courage in battle or other conflicts with living opponents; intrepidity is firm courage, which shrinks not amid the most appalling dangers; gallantry is adventurous courage, dashing into the thickest of the fight. Heroism may call into exercise all these modifications of courage. It is a contempt of danger, not from ignorance or inconsiderate levity, but from a noble devotion to some great cause, and a just confidence of being able to meet danger in the spirit of such a cause. Cf. {Courage}.
In this, medieval chivalry and the last hurrah of English military heroism are conjoined.
"It's an absolute act of heroism that someone is able to get out of a box.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission now has honored 37 people thus far this year and 7,218 people since it was founded in 1904 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie to recognize heroism in the United States and Canada.
The company honored Swartz for heroism at a reception June 24.
Last year, Bush called North a "national hero" but later refined that to say he was alluding to North's record of heroism in military combat.
This is tabloid TV, tales of heroism and bravery re-enacted.
"They showed the same heroism as we did," says Viktor Feodorovich.
It may well be that the age of heroism in British politics has long since passed. Margaret Thatcher was the exception rather than the rule.
Charles Banks, who was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism in the Korean War, died of cancer.
Histories narrating heroism, tragedy and turpitude are in train concerning the Low Countries, Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia.
I didn't see too many acts of heroism," Marrone said.
But those daily acts of heroism are just one part of the vital work that this Coast Guard performs.
Its crew earned nine battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action.
The pilot and surviving crew of the Aloha Airlines jetliner that ripped open over Hawaii a year ago received awards for heroism Friday as a federal agency neared the end of its investigation of the incident.
Media reports generally praise the soldiers for "fulfilling their internationalist duty" in Afghanistan and stress the themes of patriotism and heroism.
Balian, 48, is a native of the Los Angeles area who won a Silver Star for heroism in Vietnam in 1966 while a young lieutenant.
This weekend, David Kulick's blithe heroism, Alan Good's serene command and Frederic Gafner's vivid involvement all made particularly strong impressions. The structure of an Event varies greatly.
The generally scant attention given him is pointed out by Episcopal Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning, who suggests more appreciation is in order for Joseph's heroism.
Until recently, however, that heroism was not matched by common sense over economic policy. The trigger for change was a crisis.
For 58 hours after a toddler tumbled into an abandoned well, hundreds of rescuers worked together to free her, but now an effort to bring their heroism to television has divided them.
Scenario one: This movie about Chicago firefighters could be the one film that taps into the reverence for pure, old-fashioned heroism that swept the country during the Persian Gulf war.
At the time of his 1966 heroism, he was a young lieutenant commanding a group of Navy "swift" boats operating on rivers and canals southeast of Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City.
But at the same time this is a nation capable of great deeds, great sacrifices and great heroism.
In its kitschy fashion, "Star Trek" restored a certain balance, affirming patriotism, heroism and other pre-'60s virtues, while indulging in '60s-style humor and campy metaphysics.
Now, Jason's enjoying the attention that comes with heroism.
Daly City Police spokesman Jim McHenry said Smith was being considered for a commendation for heroism.
The great achievement of "I'll Fly Away" is its commitment to character, its insistence on nuance and its avoidance of extreme portraits, whether of bigotry or heroism.